Arrogance left the horde to find his man. He searched high and low and in every city. There were many whom he thought would be a great candidate, yet he wanted just the right one; one in whom all the people would love and admire. He searched and searched throughout the kingdom and couldn’t find the right one, until…

“I have a splendid idea!” Arrogance thought to himself, “Why not search the king’s court? Yes, I am sure to find the man there, a fox in the henhouse, a traitor amongst the faithful, a man for the hour!”

Meanwhile more unrest was brewing in the kingdom. It had been a long time since anyone had heard any news from the king and rumors spread like wildfire. Small groups of folks would ban together to protect themselves from rival gangs. There was fighting in the streets and homes and families were being torn apart. The courts were inundated with lawsuits, divorces and criminal cases. Marriages suffered and children grew up trusting no one. The kingdom was in shambles and there looked to be no hope on the horizon. Pride stood atop the highest pinnacle looking satisfied at what he had accomplished thus far.

“I could never have imagined that I brought this all on by one little turning away. I never dreamed that by refusing the king and going my own way would have ever brought all this on. Now look at them, the little vermin! They all like sheep have turned away –each to his own way! Soon, I will rule them all.”

Now even the families within the king’s castle felt like prisoners. They weren’t allowed to go out into the towns because of the edict that the counsel had passed. They began to grumble amongst themselves, and to the counsel as well. An emergency meeting would take place; where something would be accomplished.

The pressure was on every counsel member to amend this new law. Something or some other way had to be found because the present situation was certainly not acceptable. The king, on the other hand, would be found alone in his chambers. Since the law was passed he had hidden himself away, fasting and praying. His heart was broken, he couldn’t bear the grief; these people were his children and he loved every one of them with all of his heart.

Now, the counsel members assembled alone in the meeting hall determined to come up with another solution. Well, at least they thought they were alone. Arrogance had slipped in unnoticed, no one was aware that an attack was about to take place. They had no clue that one of their own would be tempted, enticed, and ultimately deceived by the spirit of arrogance.

He looked each man over and studied out how each one carried himself around his peers. Did anyone stand out? Was there one in particular whom the counsel looked to? Yes! There he was sitting silently, yet still head and shoulders above them all. Good looking, confident and deliberate, he would be the one.

And so the whispers of Arrogance began and the counsel member began to be lifted up in his own eyes. His way would be the right way; his thoughts would be the best ideas. Besides, the king trusted him the most and relied heavily upon his wisdom. Many times the king had taken him aside to speak with him alone, and the other members knew that. He would use this favor to exalt himself. He should do this for the good of the kingdom.

He knew (because of Arrogance) that he was the man for the hour. He stood and quieted the room with his charismatic smile and piercing eyes. He was above them and he knew it. It wasn’t conceit, he thought, he just knew the simple fact; he was the man for the hour.

To be continued…